Guest Jake Johnson, a first-time feature director, joins the hosts to talk about his movie 'Self Reliance' and how it fits into his career arc. The hosts also auction draft their most anticipated movies for 2024, including 'Dune Part 2' and 'Challengers.' They discuss natural disasters, speculate on plotlines for 'Rebel Moon 2' and 'Furiosa Medmax Saga,' and reflect on the themes of life and death in current events.
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Quick takeaways
The podcast hosts auction draft their most anticipated movies for 2024, including highly anticipated films such as 'Dune Part 2' and 'Challengers' and directors like Bong Joon-ho and Francis Ford Coppola.
Jake Johnson's directorial debut film 'Self Reliance' aims to strike a balance between a lighthearted and ridiculous tone while keeping the characters grounded and believable.
Jake Johnson's experience with the TV show 'New Girl' taught him the importance of connecting with audiences and prioritizing their enjoyment over critical acclaim.
Jake Johnson recognizes the growing importance of direct-to-audience platforms like podcasts and emphasizes the significance of creating content that genuinely resonates with people.
Jake Johnson embraces the evolving nature of the entertainment industry, focusing more on making audiences happy and connecting with fans directly rather than conforming to industry expectations.
Jake Johnson draws inspiration from a Japanese reality show and movies like 'Jacob's Ladder' to infuse his film 'Self-Reliance' with unconventional narrative structures and a unique voice.
Deep dives
Blitz
Blitz is up for bidding starting at $150. It is a highly anticipated film that could potentially be nominated for Oscars.
Furiosa Mad Max Saga
Furiosa Mad Max Saga is up for bidding starting at $50. It is a prequel to the popular Mad Max franchise.
Maxine
Maxine is up for bidding starting at $380. It is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Paul Mescal and Barrick Hew in a highly anticipated film.
Twisters
Twisters is up for bidding starting at $240. It is a sequel to the popular disaster film Twister.
The Journey to Directing Solo
Jake Johnson discusses his journey to directing a film on his own after collaborating with directors like Joe Swanberg. He wanted full control over the tone of the film and the ability to protect his fellow actors. He describes the tone of the film as a stoner thriller, with each moment taking itself seriously while not taking itself seriously at all. His goal was to create a lighthearted and ridiculous movie while still keeping the characters grounded and believable.
Navigating the Ups and Downs of a TV Career
Jake Johnson reflects on his experience with the TV show 'New Girl' and the highs and lows that came with it. He talks about the initial success of the show and the pressure that came with it. He also discusses the shift in perception and audience reception as the show went on, which made him reevaluate his priorities and focus more on connecting with audiences rather than chasing critical acclaim.
Embracing Audience Connection
Jake Johnson expresses his desire to connect more directly with audiences and prioritize their enjoyment. He mentions the changing landscape of entertainment, where direct-to-audience platforms like podcasts and YouTube channels have gained popularity and success. He emphasizes the importance of creating content that genuinely resonates with people, even if it doesn't align with traditional industry standards or critical acclaim.
Adapting to the Shifting Entertainment Landscape
Jake Johnson acknowledges the evolving nature of the entertainment industry and the need to adapt to new platforms and changing audience preferences. He reflects on the idea of creating content that appeals to niche audiences and finding success through direct connections with fans. Johnson reveals his shift in mindset, focusing more on making audiences happy rather than conforming to industry expectations.
Finding Inspiration in Unconventional Sources
Jake Johnson shares the inspiration behind his film 'Self-Reliance', which came from a Japanese reality show. He discusses the idea of pushing boundaries and exploring unconventional narrative structures. He mentions the influence of movies like 'Jacob's Ladder' and his aspiration to create a lighter and funnier version of similar concepts. Johnson highlights the importance of finding a unique voice and pursuing passion projects that resonate with both himself and the audience.
A Reflection on Career Setbacks and Resilience
The speaker discusses the importance of not letting career setbacks discourage you. They emphasize that a pass or rejection does not mean the end of your career and that it's vital to keep moving forward. The speaker shares personal experiences of pitching and missing out on various show and movie ideas. They also explain how they put aside one particular idea that didn't get the response they expected. However, during the pandemic, they rediscovered the idea and saw it as an opportunity to create a film with themes influenced by the current era and the impact of shows like Squid Game.
Exploring Personal Creative Process and Learning from Collaborators
The speaker delves into their creative process and how their opinions about storytelling and open-endedness have evolved. They discuss how they have learned from the experiences of working with different collaborators, such as Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The speaker reflects on the reception of their independent film and the feedback they received from audiences. They also express their appreciation for the freedom and support they have received to explore various creative projects, including directing a film and co-hosting a podcast.
Sean, Amanda, and Chris gather to auction draft the movies they’re most excited for in 2024, including both Zendaya vehicles ‘Dune Part 2’ and ‘Challengers,’ Bong Joon-ho’s ‘Mickey 17,’ Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ and more (1:00). Then, Sean is joined by first-time feature director Jake Johnson to talk about his movie ‘Self Reliance’ (1:17:00) and how he views it as fitting in the larger arc of his career on and off the screen.
